Kunaris stage protest against Pakistani shelling

ASADABAD (PAN): Hundreds of people in eastern Kunar province on Sunday held a protest demonstration against cross-border rocket attacks by Pakistani forces into Dangam district of the province, an official and residents said.

The protesters gathered in Dangam district against what they said Pakistani rockets shelling into the area the other day.

Rohullah, a resident of Dangam district told Pajhwok Afghan News the protest started at around 9:00am and lasted till 11:00pm, adding the demonstrators demanded the government to help stop frequent rocket attacks from Pakistan.

He said people of the district were fed up with rocket attacks, which inflicted heavy man and material losses on them.

Kunar Governor Shuajul Mulk Jalala while acknowledging problems being faced by the people of Dangam district, said he would convey protesters’ demands to the central government.

Earlier on Saturday, Police claimed Pakistani military fired at least 38 long-range rockets into border districts of the province, the day Pakistani prime minister arrived in Kabul for a day-long visit.

Kunar police Chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Habib Syedkhel told Pajhwok Afghan News the rockets fired from across the Durand Line in Pakistan landed in Shigal and Dangam districts, but there were no reports about casualties.

As many as 1,488 rockets have been fired from the Pakistani side so far this year, leaving a total of eight civilians dead and 18 others wounded, the police chief said.

The latest shelling coincides with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s day-long visit to Kabul, where he held talks with President Hamid Karzai and High Peace Council (HPC) members.